DURHAM — Rodney Hood hasn’t played a game for the Duke men’s basketball team, but his leadership skills developed enough during a redshirt season that he’ll be one of the captains for the Blue Devils in the upcoming season.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Friday that Hood, a redshirt sophomore, and senior guard Tyler Thornton are the captains.

“I’m not surprised about Rodney,” Krzyzewski said of the player who suited up for Mississippi State as a freshman emerging in a leadership role.

Hood becomes the third sophomore to be a Duke captain, with Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus holding the title in the 2006-07 season.

“It means a lot to me to be named captain, just for the coaching staff and my teammates to have that much respect for me,” Hood said. “I’ve just got to be me and continue to lead the younger guys and lead by example. Coach doesn’t want me to do anything I haven’t been doing. That’s one of the reasons I am captain, leading by example and helping my teammates when they’re in need. I’m not going to try to create a new identity just because I’m playing now.”

Hood practiced with the Blue Devils last season after averaging 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2011-12 with the Southeastern Conference team. He was often the best player in Duke’s practices last season.

“We’ll see now with … the pressure on,” Krzyzewski said, noting the different approach from a practice-only situation that Hood dealt with a year ago.

Krzyzewski said he expects Hood and freshman Jabari Parker, who’s also a forward, to be the team’s most dynamic players.

Thornton has averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 assists per game across 104 outings with Duke. He has started 28 games.

Duke is holding a practice open to the public from 10-11:30 a.m. today. Spectators can view the practice from the upper level of Cameron Indoor Stadium.